The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-09-10

called nearly every DAY. AT one Time he
brought book, at another he proposed a
walk, at third he invited the ladies for a
drive behind the housekeeping pair of
grays he had purchased.
Poor Miss Betty! Sometimes she excused
herself from joining in the excursions the
other two took such delight in, sometimes
she went with them. But, oh it was very
hardl John was so strong and tall, and, in
her eyes, so handsome. May was so young,
and fresh, and beautiful. They were fine
couple to look at, but for all that Miss
Betty did not like to look at them.
Summer drifted into autumn and autumn
into winter Nobody minded. Winter has
its pleasures as well as summer. May had
become the favorite of the village, and Miss
Betty enjoyed her popularity. Sleigh rides
were plentiful; there was a singing school
that reminded Miss Betty of her youth, and
sociables and candy pulls. During the
evenings May spent at home the wood fire
blazed, the ladies sewed, John Mcintosh
called, and when conversation tagged
amused himself with book.
Presently signs of spring began to ap-
pear The air grew warmer, the snow
began to melt on all sides, the trees began
to bud.
1t was one day in April when John Nc
Intosh, gazing out of the parlor window,
inquired suddenly:
"Miss Perkins, is that dam secure?n
"Father always said So" answered Miss
Betty"
Yes, l remember He said so twenty
years ago. Nothing would make him change
his opinion. Why did he build this house
so that in case it did give way you'd be SIRE
to be drowned outl Ibelieve good freshet
would carry every stick and stone of it
| awav.''
"But we never have freshets in tbs little
river"
eve might have one, though, this season.
They say the accumulatlons Of ice upto the
northward are fearful. These sof skies
have come too suddenly. They ar what
farmers call "a weather BREEDER Set the
ice get pretty well melted and gle us a
good rain storm to send it down, TIRED be
trouble, sure.n
Miss Betty did not believe in thereshet.
Her mind was occupied with othernatters.
John and May were certainly conng to an
understanding. The other day Sc, Betty,
had been alone in the room Withhim, and
he had been talking about May. Suddenly
Miss Betty had fancied he was gang to say
something about marrying her. 1t was too
much. Miss Betty made some lrifling ex-
cuse and fled. Then she sent My into the
room. OF late she had taken 20 leaving
them alone together. If it We to be, it
must be- but John should not .onsult her
first. If he had no memory, sh had. Let
him speak to May.
''There certainly is somethinglueera about
the river" urged John the mex evening as
he took his departure. cts six inches
higher than usual, and look at.he mud. l
don't believe in that dam either
1.-THE dam will last till morning, won't
it?' asked May, mischievously.
81 don't know whether it will or not. 1t
might not if we had a heavy storm. 1t
looks like one, too. Does ANYBODY remain
awake in this house all nightl"
mot usually"
''Let some one do it tonight ten, and to-
morrow Wen have things seen o."
But even this warning wen' unheeded.
May was not timid. Miss Betty, thoI gh
naturally so, believed in the tam. Wnen
bed time came she read her usul chapter in
the Bible, sad her prayers, tel the strings
of her night cap into an ir'eproachable
bow and went to bed to sleep the sleep of
the just
At what time could it have been that she
was awakeded so rudely? Was it raining
Yes surely. There was the distinct sound
of rain drops on the roof. But the rushing
sound that came from so far off-what was
thatl Miss Betty went to the window and
looked out. There was something strange
in the landscape-what was it!
What Miss Betty saw might well sean
strange. Instead of her familiar garden
the picket fence and the grassy lawn be
yond, there in their place was a watery
waste. All manner of small things were
floating about-fower pots, sticks, Mis-:
Betty's garden hat, inadvertently left OF
the porch. All small things that coult
float were having regatta.
Harkl what was that9 A repetition O
the sound that awoke her some minute!
ago-a bursting, crashing sound-a rushing
sound, sound of huge timbers teariu!
themselves from their fastenings, swell
ing, dashing, roaring sound!
"Helpn' shrieked Miss Betty, ''helpl'
In moment she had seen what the matte
was. The dam had given way, the waters
were rising. Presently they would ever
whelm the house.
Miss Betty did not wait to see if her ap
peal was heard. Who was there coulC
hear it. There was no one near but Ma,
and Maria Opening her door with tremb
ling fingers she sped into the passage
There she met two flying figures, white
robed like herself.
ITO the roof! to the roofl" she screamed
and selling the nearest garments the.
could find, to the roof the three terrified
women fed.
Fortunately for all, the old house wa
not very firmly set upon its foundations
or else old age and decay had loosened il
At any rate it foated, and as the water
rose it rose with them
But what apredlcamentl Three half-clat
shivering women perched on top of a float
ing house, in the middle of wild Apri
nighttime wind roaring, the rain falling
all wild fury of the elements let loose.
eve shall die, Aunt Betty, we shall die,
moaned May
Courage, Mayr' came from Miss Betty'l
white lips. But in reality she was suffer
| ing more than either of the other two
May was young and healthy, and exposure
did not affect the good Maria's coarsei
frame. Miss Betty was not young; she
was not well. Suspense and unhappiness
had made her even feebler and frazier Of
late than usual.
OH how YEARLY the hours passed. The
old house shook and trembled as it was
tossed here and there by the turbulent
waters Great logs from the dam strucl
| O1N1i sNixro sod Ut Aa,.I Ia